Potato-digger



(NoMoael.) sheetssheet 2.

B. S. HOWARD.

Y PoTATo BIGGER. No. 439,758. Patented N0v.4,1890.

1n: noms pneus co.. muro-urna, mmxmrrow, n. c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheetl 3.

B. S. HOWARD.

POTATO BIGGER.

Patentd Nov.- `1J., 1890.

H0 ward yyrom we nanms rusas co.. Pmmmmo., wnsnmmau, n. c.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

B. S. HOWARD.v

POTATO BIGGER.v

Patented Nov. 4, 1890.l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BYRON S. IIOVARD, OF WINOHESTER, NEV HAMPSHIRE.

POTATO-DIGG ER.

SPECIFICATION formingk part of Letters Patent No. 439,758-, dated November 4, 1890.

Application filed April 9, 1890. Serial No. 347,187. (No model.)

To 1f/ZZ whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, BYRON S. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winchester, in the county of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire, have invented. a new and useful Potato-Digger, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to a machine for harvesting potatoes.

Among the objects in View are to providea machine adapted to elevate the plant, remove the tops therefrom, deliect them to one side of the machine, pick up the potatoes, remove the clods therefrom, screen the potatoes, carry them in an exposed position toa rapidly-revolving polishing-brush, and deliver the same upon an assorting-screen, and, finally, deliver the potatoes, the large and the small, in separate bags.

Further objects in view are to provide for elevating the frame of the machine atits front end through mechanism operated by the team, which mechanism is under direct control of the driver.

Various objects and advantages of the invention wi-llhereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a harvester constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 isa longitudinal vertical section. Fig.4is a transverse section on the line a: r of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line z z of Fig. 1. Fig. 7is a det-ail in perspective of the potato-elevating hood. Fig.'8 is a detail in side elevation of the picking-roller-supporting bracket and the lever for operating the same,.the side sills being broken away. Fig. 9is a detailin section of the picking-cylinder shaft and sliding gear. Fig. 10 is a detail of the plow-standard.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Certain novel features of construction hereinafter described and claimed are applicable to other machinery than potato diggers or liarvesters, as will be apparent to those skilled in machinery.

TheA frame of the machine is of oblong shape, and comprises two oppositelongitudinal side sills 1, connected at their front and rear ends by cross-bars 2, to which they are securely bolted, as shown. At intervals the side sills l are connected by transversely-disposed angular tie-bars 3, the ends of which are securely bolted to said side sills.

Near the center of the frame there is journaled the transverse supporting-axle 4, said axle being mounted in bearings 5, formed in the side sills l. The front transverse bar 2 has located in front of the samea forwardlyprojecting perch 6. The perch 6 extends to the rear of the transversebar,andis securely bolted to the tie-bars 3.

7 represents the front axle, mounted upon wheels 8, saidaxle being journaled in bearings 9, formed in the lower ends of a pair of rearwardly curved standards or levers 10. The levers 10 at a point above the bearings for the axle are pivotally connected by means of bolts 11 to the lower ends of aninverted- U-shaped bolster 13. The bolster 13 is provided with a perforation 14, which registers with a similar perforation formed in the perch in front of the transverse bar, and through said perforations is passed the king-bolt 15,r

the lower portion of which is extended through a hollow or centrally-bored stud 17, formed-upon the under side of the inverted- U-shaped bolster, the king-bolt extending considerably below said stud and adapt-ed for vertical reciprocation within the same, as will appear farther on. The rear extremities of the curved levers are embraced by a draftbail 1S, the forward ends of which are bolted to the opposite sides of the draft-bar,and the rear terminals of said bail embrace the outer sides of said rearwardly-curved levers, and are pivotally connected to the rear ends of the levers, as at 19, which pivotal connection is at a point above the point of pivot between the levers and the inverted- U -shaped bolster, which latter point of pivot is the fulcrum of the levers. The rear ends of the bails are connected by a cross-bar 20, and securely bolted to the cross-bar is a curved or circular horizontal guide-bar 2l.

The front axle is extended beyond the wheels, the ends of the axle passing through ICO openings 23, formed in the extremities of a U-shaped bail 24, and beyond said extremities the axles are perforated and maintained in position by means of ordinary linchpins 25. From the center of the bail there projects forwardly and upwardly a curved lockingbar26-,said bar passing through a slot 27, formed for its accommodation near the rear end of the draft-beam or tongue. The inner edge of the bar is provided with a series of notches or shoulders 27*, into which there is adapted to be normally projected a springpressed locking-bolt 28, mounted in a housing 29. Connected with the rear end of the bolt is a light chain 30, the length of which is continued by a cord 3l, extending to the rear of the machine and within grasp of the driver, the seat for whom will be hereinafter mentioned. v

Upon the rear axle4 is mounted the groundwheels 32, rigid with the aXle,and one of said wheels has formed upon the inner face of its rim a toothed gear 33, which gear is adapted to operate the cutting and other mechanism hereinafter described.

Rising from the side sills l and securely bolted thereto are opposite standards 34, the lower ends of the standards being widened to form a suitable base, and said standards being located at a point slightly in advance of the rear axle. i Pivoted to the front lower ends of the standards, as at 35, is a pair of triangular-shaped brackets 36. In the lower ends'of the brackets or what would be their lower angles are formed bearings 37, in which is mounted for rotation a shaft 38. One end of the shaft is extended beyond the adjacent bracket, and loose thereupon there is mounted a shifting-gear 39, which upon its outer face and at its hub is provided with aseries of radiating recesses 40, designed to receive a cross-pin 41 when said gear is thrown to the end of the shaft, and by means of said crosspin the gear is rigidly connected .with the shaft, and the latter moves therewith. A grooved collar42 is formed upon the rear side of thev gear, and in the same takes the bifurcated end 43 of an ordinary shifting-lever 44, which lever is pivoted, as at 45, removably upon a horizontal post projecting from the adjacent Vertical standard.

Mounted upon the shaft 38, between the brackets and fast upon the shaft, is a cylinder 46, which cylinder has its periphery provided with several rows of picking-teeth 47, each of said rows being arranged in a semicircular line transversely across the periphery of the cylinder. The teeth 47 each consist of a threaded shank 48,bound in position upon the cylinder by means of binding-bolts 49. The outer portions of the teeth are coiled, as at 50, and beyond their coils are curved, as at 51.

Upon the upper free ends of the triangularshaped hanging brackets are studs 52, which studs pivotally connect with the front ends of a pair of opposite levers 53, connected at their rear ends by a cross-bar 54, and pivoted intermediate their ends upon a rod 55, extending from one standard to the other. The cross-bar connecting the rods is provided with a foot-rest or perch, whereby the weight of the driver may be thrown thereupon to tilt the rear ends of the levers, said levers being designed to elevate and depress the pickingcylinder 46 and maintain it in any of its adjusted positions by means of removable pins 56, inserted in any pair of a series of pairs of openings 57, formed in the vertical standards.

Upon the sills l, slightly in advance of the picking-cylinder, there is located a pair of bearing-boxes 58, in which is mounted a transverse shaft 59, one end of which is projected beyond its bearing and carries a gear-wheel60. The gear-wheel 60 upon said shaft, the master-gear, and the shifting-gear are all preferably provided witlnV-shaped teeth, thereby avoiding friction and looseness caused by wear. By moving the shiftinggear mounted upon the axle of t-he cylinder it is apparent that motion will be transmitted from the master-gear to the shifting-gear, and from thenceto the last-ment-ioned gear.' Upon the shaft 59 and between itsbearings is mounted a bevel-gear 61, which meshes with a small pinion 62, iixed upon the rear end of a short longitudinally-disposed stub-shaft 63,

mounted for rotation in a bearing 64, located upon a transverse bar 65. The front end of the stub-shaft carries a larger bevel-gear 66.

67 represents a cross-bar, the ends of which are bent at a right angle, perforated, and pivoted by bolts 68 in the sid'e sills l, directly in front of the gear 66. In advance of the crossbar the side sills are perforated opposite each other and provided with set-bolts 69, which pass through lcurved slots 70, formed in the curved terminals of a U-shapedstirrup 7l, the lower transverse portion of which by reason of the curvature of the terminals being located vertically opposite the transverse bar 67. J ournaled in bearings formed in the transverse bar 67 are apair of vertical shafts 72, each of which has its lower end stepped in the lower transverse bar of the stirrup, and above said ends carry intermeshing iixed gears 73. One of theshafts above the bar 67 is provided with a beveled gear 74, which engages with and is operated by the large bevelgear 66. Each of the vertical shafts are provided near their lower ends with oppositelydisposed cutting arms or knives 75, adapted to revolve toward each other over a series of cutter-bars 76, extending forwardly from and secured to the lower transverse portion of the stirrup. The bar 67 being pivoted and the stirrup being adjustable by means of the binding-bolts mounted in the curved slots, it

-is apparent that the cutting mechanism, to-

gether with the finger-bar, may be tilted or swung to or from the ground.

77 represents a divided plow-standard, the branches of which are provided with a series of bolt-openings 78, adapted by means of bolts 79 to be securely bound in an adjusted position IOO IIO

tothe side sills 1. The lower portion of the standard converges, and is provided with a perfectly horizontal subsoil plow point 80. The plow-standard and plow are arranged directly behind the revolving knives, and the plow-point projects under and in advance of the finger-bars. The plow-point has a flat under surface, and its upper surface has its side edges slightly beveled, as at 81, and it is adapted to be so adjusted as to be inserted under a potato-plant, and by its beveled upper surface slightly raise the plant and present the same to the finger-bars for operation upon by the cutters.

In rear of the plow there is arranged a semicircular pilot or fender, the upper end of which is securely bolted to the side sills and the lower ends connected by braces 82 to said sills. The fender 83 'is preferably provided near its lower end with a smooth steel facing 84, adapted to receive the stones and other obstacles thrown against the same. Above said steel portion the fender may be of ordinary sheet-iron, and the entire structure suitably stiffened or otherwise braced.

85 represents the cylinder or hood mounted upon the pickingcylinder. This hood is provided with opposite heads or sides 86, the lower edges of which are provided with upwardly-disposed V-shaped recesses 87 terminating at their upper extremities in bearingopenings 88. The openings 88 receive the picking-cylinder shaft, so that the opposite sides or heads inclose the ends of said cylinder. The opposite ends or heads are connected by a central hood portion 89, the opposite edges of which for a portion of their length are cut away, as at 90, from the heads, so as to forni a somewhat reduced and resilient or spring-tongue 91, which is designed when the hood is in position to be snugly pressed by reason of its resiliency upon the ground.

Upon a cross-bar 92, connecting the bases of the opposite vertical standards, there is secured the rear end of a iieXible shelf 93. The front edge overlaps the picking-cylinder and is slotted to form iiexible tongues 94, between which are designed to ypass the picking-fingers of the cylinder. Upon the rod or bar 92, upon which is mounted the iiexible shelf, there is also pivoted the front end of a perforated screen 95, the rear free end of which extends back over the axle 4. Upon the axle 4 there is mounted a gear-wheel 96, which meshes with and drives a small pinion 97, located upon the end of a knocker-shaft 98, said shaft passing under the free end of the pivoted screen and having mounted thereupon a pair of cam-knocking wheels 99. The

relative proportions between the gears 96 and 97 are such that the knocker-shaft with its knockers is rapidly rotated by the revolutions of the rear axle. Y

Mounted in bearings 100, formed in the vertical standards 34, is a brush shaft or roll 10] the brushes of which are designed to sweep in close proximity to the liexible shelf and pivoted screen. The brush-shaft is covered by a hood 102, the opposite ends of which are provided with bearing openings 103, through which pass the ends of the shaft, and upon said shaft is mounted a gear 104, which is engaged by the gear upon the knocker-shaft. The brush-shaft gear is larger than the gear of the knocker-shaft, so that it is driven much slower. 1

In the side sills 1, above the shaft 98, are formed bearings 106, in which is journled a transverse shaft 107, carrying at one end a gear 108, engaged by the gear-wheel upon the knocker-shaft. The shaft 107 is provided between the sills with sprocket-wheels 109, and .between the sprocket-wheels with a roll 110. Upon the shaft 107 are mounted the lower ends of a pair of inclined side walls 110 of an elevator-frame. The upper ends of the elevator-frame are connected by a transverse shaft 111, mounted in standards 112, the lower ends of which are provided with a series of perforations, through any pair and corresponding openings in the sills are passed bolts 113. The shaft 111 carries a gear 114, and is covered by a hood 115 of cylindrical shape. Between the heads or sides of the hood the shaft is provided with a centralroll 116, at the ends of which are located sprockets 117.

Sprocket-chains 118 are mounted over the sprocket-wheels 117 and the sprocket-wheels 109 of the shaft 107, and said chains are connected by an 'endless apron 119, provided at intervals with transversely-disposed and in cross-section L-shaped cleat 120. The hood located at the upper end of the elevator is provided with bearing-openings 121 atapoint slightly above and in advance of the upper sprockets. In the bearing-openings there is mounted a brush-shaft 122, provided at one end outside of the hood or casing with asmall gear or pinion 123, which is engaged by the gear. p

The hood is diametrically divided, and the lower portion 124 is hinged at its rear edge to the vupper portion of the hood, as at 125, so that the lower portion may be swung from the upper portion to permit access to the interior of the hood. The free end of the hinged portion of the hood occurs under the endless apron, and in rear of the same there is located a reticulated or other form of separatingscreen 126, said screen being inclined toward the front or free end of the swinging section.

Arranged over the endless apron near its lower end and bolted t0 the sills, as at 127, which sills are provided with a series of perforations 128, whereby adjustment is secured, is an inverted-Ushaped seat-standard 129, upon which is mounted a seat 130.

This being the construction, the operation is as follows: The team being started, the subsoiler or plow takes under the potato-plant and elevates the same, so that the cutter-bars of the pivoted stirrup may receive the plant IOO IIO

the upper hood.

near its roots. The rapidly-revolving cutters remove the tops and the same fall from the cutters to the ground. The stones and earth, together with all tops, are caught by the semicircular fender or pilot and deflected from each side of the machine. The lower end of the pilot is set so as to touch the ground,and thus remove or scrape from the ground any obstacles that may injure the mechanism in rear of the Jfender. After the tops have been removed and the brush and other obstacles cleared away by the fender, it will be seen that nothing but the potatoes are left uponv the surface ot` the ground, together with what soil'may be adhering thereto. The resilient tongue of the picking-cylinder hood is next brought in contact with the potatoes, and by reason of its resiliency springs lightly over the same. The picking-cylinder, it will be understood, is being rapidly revolved, and by reason of the peculiar shape of the lingers and their location the potatoes are engaged and thrown into the hood, and said ngers, moving in close proximity to the hood, serve to carry the potatoes around the cylinder and under the slowly-revolving brush mount-ed in the hood. By reason of the curvature given the rows of teeth the potatoes are directed toward the center of the curve during the contact ot' the vbrush therewith, so that they are in a manner constantly tumbled, thus presenting different portions of the potato to the brush. In this manner the major portion of the dirt is removed from the potatoes, which now pass upon the flexible shelf arranged at the rear end of the picking-cylinder, and are directed from the shelf onto the vibrating screen. By reason of the vibrations of this screen all dust loosened by the brush is shaken from the potatoes, after which the potatoes fall upon the endless carrier or apron and are supported by the cleats and raised to Here they are brought in contact with the rapidly-revolving polishingbrush, by which the skins of the potatoes are thoroughly polished. After passing under the brush, the potatoes fall upon the separating-screen 136, which is of a mesh sufliciently large to permit of the passage therethrough of all potatoes under a certain size and to prevent the passage of all potatoes over said size. A bag 131 is removably supported by hooks 132 below the separatorscreen, and a similar bag 133 is supported by hooks 134 at the end of said screen, so thatV the small potatoes or those under certain size, falling through the screen or separator, are caught by one bag, while those above said size and sufficiently large to pass over the openings in the screen are directed to the end of the screen and there delivered into the second bag.

At the rear end of the frame is located a platform 135, upon which an attendant may stand for the purpose of removing and renewing the bags.

Heretofore in machines of this class, by

which I mean to include gang-plows, harrows, dac., it has been customary to provide amechanism for elevating the end ot' the machine at the ends of the rows and furrows, said mechanism being operated by the weight of the driver. As will hereinafter appear, however, it will be seen that I have provided a mechanism under control ot' the driver and adapted to be operated by the team drawing the machine, said mechanism being equally as well adapted for various other agricultural machines as for the one herein illustrated.

When it is desired that the mechanism for raising, cutting, and picking the potatoes should be elevated from the ground for the Durnose of turning the machine. leaving the field or transit, it is simply necessary for the driver to draw upon the oord 31, which withdraws the locking-bolt 28 against the tension of its spring from the locked connection with the curved locking-bar 2G. Vthen this has been accomplished, it will be seenv that the curved locking bar is free to move within the slot of the tongue or draft-bar. The draft is now withdrawn from t-he axle by reason of the disk-connection of the beam with the locking-bar, which latter, it will be remembered, is connected at its lower end with the axle and ordinarily constitutes the draft-connection between the beam and axle. When thus liberated, however, the draft is transferred from the locking-bar and the axle to the draft-bail 1S, which has its rear end pivotally connected, as at 19, to the rear ends of the rearwardly-curved standards or levers 10. rlhe pivotal connection of the draft-bail withthe standards being above the fulcrumpoints of the standards, as indicated at 11, the pull of the team tends to raise the upper ends of the standard, and the resistance of wheels serving as a purchase or bearing the inverted-U-shaped bolster is raised, and with it is elevated the front end of the machine. When being elevated, the king-bolt slides in the opening in the bolster, so that t-he frame is raised a considerable distance above the bolster, and for the purpose of preventing the king-bolt from entirely leaving the bolster and its hollow stud said king-bolt is made of the length shown. In this movement of the curved standard it will be seen that the lower ends of the standards where journaled upon the front axle constitute the fulcrums, and hence a hundred-pound pull of the team upon the draft-beam would be amply sufficient to elevate the frame. The upper end of the curved locking-bar is provided with a notch 27, similarto the notch 27 near the lower end of the bar, so that. after the locking-bolt has been withdrawn the same is immediately liberated and rides along the inner curved IOO edge of the locking-bar until it reaches said turning has been accomplished a pull upon the reins will cause the team to back slightly,

and the curved levers will swing to the rear, the locking-bar pass through the beam, and the bolt lock the same in the original position, and thus the digging mechanism will be lowered into Contact with the ground.

My machine is especially designed for use in the stony countries or sections, and it will be observed that all parts are most thoroughly protected and calculated to stand the treatment they would be likely to receive in such countries. The picking-fingers of the cylinder, it will be observed, are so constructed that they would bend over upon the face of the cylinder, instead of breaking, should said cylinder ride upon a stone or other suiiicientlyhard substance.

- By reason of the peculiar manner of mounting the cylinder it is apparent that if the machine should meet with an obstacle larger than ordinarily encountered-such as a stump or other similar obstruction-the driver may -by jumping upon the foot-rest at the rear ends of the cylinder-supportinglevers elevate said cylinder above such obstacle, and thus prevent any breakage.

I do not limit my invention to the exact details of construction herein illustrated and described, but would have it understood that I may vary the same in any manner and to any extent within the scope of my invention and the skill of persons conversant with this class of machinery.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is* l. In a machine, the combination, with a frame and its rear axle, of the front axle, standards rising from the said front axle, a bolster pivoted to the standards above the axle, a draft-beam connected to the standards above the pivots of the bolster, a king-bolt depending from the front end of the frame and through an opening formedin the bolster, and a locking-bar connected with the axle and passing through an opening in the beam or draft bar, and means for locking said bar to the beam, substantially as specified. f

2. In a machine, the combination, with the frame and the rear axle, of the front axle, a pair of rearwardly-curved standards journaled at their lower ends upon said axle, a draft-beam having a draft-bail and bracing the outer sides of and pivoted to the upper ends of the curved standards, a locking-bail having its ends j ournaled upon the front axle and terminating in a locking-bar, notched and passing through a slot in the draft-beam, a bolt-spring actuated and mounted in a casing upon the beam, and an inverted- U -shaped bolster having a central opening and a depending registering and centrally-bored stud, the terminals of the bolster being pivoted to the curved standards between their ends and the elongated king-bolt depending from the frame and loosely mounted for reciprocation in the bolster and stud, substantially as specified.

3. In a machine of the class described,the combination ,with the rectangular frame cornprising the opposite side sills, end connectingbars and the intermediate tie-bars, the longitudinal perch connecting the tie-bars and having its front end projected beyond the end bar and perforated, of the front axle, the rearwardly-disposed curved levers journaled at their lower ends upon the axle, the draftbeam, the U -shaped bail connected at its front end to the beam and at its rear end to the upper ends of the standards, the transverse bail-connecting bar, the curved guide, the inverted- U -shaped bolster pivoted to the standards between the axle and the point of pivot of the draft-bail and having a depending hollow stud at its upper central portion, the kingbolt passing through the opening in the perch and through the stud, the lockingbail connected at its ends to the ends of the axle and projecting forward to form a curved locking-bar having upper and lower notches and passing t-hrou gh a slot formed in the draftbeam, a spring-act uated bolt adapted for engaging the notches mounted in the housing secured to the draft-beam, and a bolt-operating cord leading from the rear end of said bolt, substantially as specified.

4:. In a machine, the combination, with a frame and the rear supporting-axle, of a front axle, a pair of opposite standards journaled at their lowerl ends upon said axle, a draftbeam connected at its rear end to the upper portions of the standard, a bolster pivoted to the standards between the points of pivot of the axle and draft-beam, a king-bolt depending from the frame and passing through an opening in the bolster, and means for locking the standards in araised or lowered position, substantially as specified.

5. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with the main frame having a transverselyarranged pivoted cross-bar, of a depending adjustable and rearwardly-curved stirrup or frame, bearings formed in the cross-bar and lower end of the stirrup, inger-bars projecting from the stirrup, a pair of vertical shafts mounted in the bearings and carrying revoluble cutters operating over the finger-bars, and means for revolving the shaft, substantially asspecied.

G. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with the frame having a transverse bar provided with bearings, of a U-shaped stirrup the terminals of whichare curved and longitudinally slotted and bolts for connecting said terminals adj ustably with the side bars of the frame, a pair of shafts mounted in the bearings of the cross-bar and having their lower ends stepped in corresponding bearings formed in the stirrup, opposite engaging-gear removably mounted upon the shafts, one of which is provided with an upper removable pinion, a train of gearing leading from the drive-wheel to said pinion, and a pair of revolving knives mounted in the shafts, substantially as specified.

7. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with a series of finger-bars, a pair of revolv- IOO IIO

ing knives arranged above the bars, and means for revolving the knives, of a plow arranged below the finger-bars and extending in front thereof, substantially as specified.

8. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with a series of cutter-bars, revolving cutters, and means for operating the same arranged in rear of and over the bars, of a plow-standv ard arranged in rear of the cutters and a fiat plow share arranged at the lower end of the standard in a hoiizontal position and below and terminating slightly in advance of the cutter-bars, substantially as specified.

9. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with the frame, of an adjustable stirrup having a series of cutter-bars, a pair of revolving shafts and cutters mounted thereon, said shaft being adjustable in the frame, and a plow-standard adjustablyl mounted in the frame-work in rear of the stirrup and carrying at its lower end a plowshare, the forward end of which is arranged under and in front of the cutter-bars, substantially as specified.

10. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with a revolving picking-cylinder, of a hood arranged over the cylinder and having its y front edge occurring in advance thereof and provided with opposite slots forming an integral intermediate spring-tongue adapted to rest upon the ground in advance of the cylinder, substantially as specified.

1l. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with the frame, of a picking-cylinder, a hood for the same, and means for adjusting the cylinder with relation to the frame, substantially as specified.

12. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with the frame, of a pair of triangular brackets pivoted therein, a shaft journaled in the lower end of the brackets, a picking-cylinder mounted on the shaft, and a pair of pivoted levers pivoted in rear of the cylinder and pivotally connected at their front ends to the upper angles of the bracket, substantially as specified.

13. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with the frame thereof, of a shaft adjust-ably mounted in the frame, a picking-cylinder mounted on the shaft, a gear-wheel mounted loosely upon the shaft and provided at its hub with recesses and atits rear side with a grooved collar, a pin passed through the shaft and adapted to be received by the recesses, and a pivoted shifting-lever engaging the collar, and a groundwheel having a gear and adapted to be engaged by the gear of the pickingcylinder shaft when said gear has been thrown into position to engage the pin, substantially as specified.

14. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with the picking-cylinder, means for operating the same, and. a hood for the cylinder, mounted over the upper and front portions thereof, of a shaking-screen'arranged in rear of the cylinder and a shelf connecting the cyl- 'inder with the screen, the upper rear edge of the hood terminating above said shelf, substantially as specified.

l5. In a potato-harvester, the comblnation,

with a potato-support` of a brush-roll located above the support and means for rotating the brush, substantially as specied.

1G. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with a picking-cylinder and means for rotating the same, of a shelf resting upon the cylinder, a brush-roll mounted above the shelf, and means for rotating said roll, substantially as specified.

17. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with the frame-work, of a pair of standards mounted thereon and provided with bearings, a brush-roll mounted in the standards, a hood covering the roll, a gear mounted on the brush-roll shaft, a ground-wheel having a gear meshing with the gear of the shaft, a picking-cylinder, means for rotating the same, arranged in advance of the brush-roll, and means for operatin the pickin g-cylinder and brush-roll, substantially as specified.

18. In apotat'o-harvester, the combination, with the frame-work thereof and mechanism for picking the potatoes, of opposite located shafts having sprockets, means for operating the sprockets, endless chains mounted on the sprocket, an endless apron arranged over the shafts, and a revolving brush arranged at the upper end of the apron, substantially as specified.

19. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with an endless carrier, of a hood located at the upper end of the same, a brush-roll mounted above the hood, and gears mounted on the brush-roll shaft and the carrier-shaft and engaging with each other, substantially as specified.

20. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with an endless carrier land means for operating the same, of a hood arranged over the rear end of the same and having its' bottom provided with an inclined separator arranged under the rear end of the carrier, substantially as specified.

21. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with an endless carrier and means for operating the same, of a hood formed in sections, the upper section beingarranged over and the lower section under the rear end of the carrier and the latter section hinged to the former, and an inclined separator arranged in said latter section and having its front end terminating at the end of the section, substantially as specified.

22. In a potatodigger,the combination,with the frame-work, the ground-wheels, the supporting-axle, and a gear-wheel mounted on the axle, of a potato-picking cylinder, means for operating the same, a screen pivoted in rear of the cylinder, a shaft arranged under the screen, a cam-knocker mounted on the shaft, and a small gear mounted on vthe end of the shaft and meshing with t-he gear of the axle, substantially as specified.

ICO

23. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with plantelevating mechanism, top cutting mechanism,,potato-picking mechanism, screening mechanism, elevating mechanism, polishing mechanism, and separating meollanism arranged in the order named, of means, substantially as described, for simultaneously operating each of said mechanisms, substantially as specified.

24. In a potato-harvester, the combination, Wit-h a primary cleaning-brush and a polishing-brush, of means for operatin g the brushes and for conducting the potatoes from the primary brush to the polishing-brush, substantially as specied. .Y Y. .Y

25. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with a primary cleaning-brush and a secondary polishing-brush, of, means for' conducting the potatoes from the primary to the secondary brush and means for revolving the secondary or polishing brush at a greater speed than the primary brush, substantially as specified.

26. In a potato-harvester, the combination, with an axle, a gear mounted thereon, and wheels mounted on the axle, of abrush-roll journaled above the axle, a gear arranged on the roll and meshing with the gear of the axle, upper and lower transverse shafts, gears mounted thereon, thelower one of which gears with the axle-gear, sprocket-pulleys mounted on said shaft, endless chains connecting the pulleys and carrying the endless apron, and a brush-roll arranged above the upper end of the apron and having a pinion meshing with the gear of the upper shaft, substantially as specified.

. In Vtestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

BYRON S. HOWARD.

Witnesses:

E. G. SIGGERS,

J. H. SIGGERS. 

